Laundry machine



5, 1953 P. w. DOUGLAS 2,637,186

LAUNDRY MACHINE 7 Filed Sept. 20, 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. PEYTrm w. Duusms A T'TURNE Y May 5, 1953 P. w. DOUGLAS 2,537,186

LAUNDRY MACHINE Filed Sept. 20. 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 AT TURKEY May 5, 1953 P. w. DOUGLAS LAUNDRY momma Filed Sept. 20. 1947 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR.

m L G u D N D T Y E F ATTURNEY Filed Sept. 20, 1947 y 5,1953 P. w. DOUGLAS 2,637,186

LAUNDRY MACHINE 6 Sheets- Sheet 6 JNVENTOR. PeYrnnW. BuusLAs ATTURNEY Patented May 5, 1953 LAUNDRY MACHINE Pevton W. Douglas. Syracuse, N. Y.. assignor to Easy Washing Machine Corporation, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application September 20, 1947, Serial No. 775,236

8 Claims.

This invention relates to laundry machines adapted to both wash and centrifu ally damp dry laundry in the same laundry-containing receptacle or drum, thereby avoiding any necessity for handling the wet laundry between the washing and drying operations.

Many laundry machines of this general description have heretofore been devised, and some of them have been commercially marketed. In all of the prior machines of this general description with which I am familiar, the laundry-containing drum is mounted for rotation within a larger stationary tank or vat, which serves to retain the Washing liquid either during the washing operation or during the centrifuging operation or both. Thus, in one well-known type of laundry machine, a perforated drum is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis within such a vat. The clothes are washed by tumbling them within the drum while the drum is partially immersed in a washing liquid which is contained Within the Vat and is admitted to the drum through the perforations in the drum wall. After washing, the free washing liquid is drawn off from the vat, and the laundry is then centrifugally dried by rotating the perforated drum at a higher speed, the liquid extracted from the laundry during centrifuging escaping thro gh the drum perforations into the vat, from which it is drawn off to waste. The vat is then partially filled with clear water, in which the laundry is given an agitated rinse to remove the detergent employed in washing. The free rinsing liquid is drawn off in its turn, and. the laundry again centrifugally dried. A second type of laundry machine, also on the market, differs from the one just described primarily in that the axis of the drum is inclined at an angle to the horizontal. In still a third type of laundry machine of this general description, a perforated drum is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis within a vat, and the laundry is washed and given an agitated rinse therein by an agitator of the conventional vertical axis type, the free liquid being drained from the vat after each of these operationsand the laundry then being centrifuged. The drum and the agitator are coupled together to rotate as a unit when the laundry is centrifuged, and the centrifugally extracted liquid escapes through the perforations in the side wall of the drum into the vat. A fourth type differs from the third primarily in that the drum is substantially imperforate, being open only at its top, and is frusto-conical in shape, tapering upward and outward, so that liquid can escape from the drum only by flowing over its upper rim into the surrounding vat, which serves principally as a drain sump.

All of these types of laundry machines suffer from the disadvantage that the surrounding casing must be water-tight so as to serve as a vat. All of them except the fourth suffer from the additional disadvantage that a larger amount of wash water and rinse water is required to maintain a proper level in the laundry-containing drum than would be the case if the drum were imperforate and the water contained solely within the drum. The fourth type has the disadvantage that the entire mass of free li uid must be rotated in the drum at the start of the centrifuging operation and must be removed from the drum by centrifugal force.

Washing ma hines of the type in which the washing and rinsing liquids are retained solely within a substantially imrerforate laundry-containing drrm, and in which no surrounding vat is required, are well-known, but, such washing machine arrangements have not, prior to my invention, been utilized in a laundry machine in which both washing and centrifugal drying are accomplished as above described. The reason evidently is that the very same features of construction which have been adopted to avoid the use of a surrounding vat and retain liquid within the drum, make it impossible to permit the proper escape of centrifugally extracted liquid.

The principal ob ect of the present invention is to provide a means for overcoming the difiiculties just recited, and to provide a laundry machine in which no surrounding vat is necessary, in which laundry may be washed, rinsed and. centrifugally dried within a substantially imperforate drum which alone serves to retain the washing and rinsing liquids, and in which appropriate means are provided for removing centrifugally extracted liquid.

The laundry machines of this invention are characterized by the provision of (1) a substantially imperforate drum rotatable about its axis for centrifuging; (2) a laundry-containing chamber in the drum; (3) means for removing free liquid from the drum before centrifuging; (4) an enlarged chamber in said drum having an annular storage zone adapted to receive, and of such capacity as to accommodate, the liquid extracted during centrifuging; and (5) means for removing the extracted liquid from said enlarged chamber as the drum slows down from centrifuging speed, without permitting the extracted liquid to re-enter the laundry-containing chamber and be re-absorbed by the laundry.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters denote like parts, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a laundry machine according to this invention having a drum mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis;

Figure 2 is a central vertical section thereof;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a drum rib looking at its perforate side;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a drum rib looking at its imperforate side;

Figure 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a perspective diagram showing the internal construction of the drum;

Figure '7 is a central vertical section of a modified construction of the drum;

Figure 8 is a detail section taken on line 88 of Figure 7;

s Figure 9 is a central vertical section of a modified form of laundry machine according to this invention having a drum mounted for rotation about an inclined axis;

Figure 10 is a section taken on line Ill-l0 of Figure 9; and

Figure 11 is a central vertical section of a further modified form of laundry machine according to this invention having a drum mounted for rotation about a vertical axis.

The laundry machine illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings comprises, as shown more particularly in Figures 1 and 2, a base 26 upon which is supported a box-like casing 2|, which encloses the mechanism. The front panel 22 of the casing 2| is provided with an access opening 23 closed by a door 24. The door 24 is hinged to the front panel 22 by a hinge 25, and is held closed by a latch 26.

As shown in Figure 2, a substantially imperforate drum 2'! is mounted within the casing 2| for rotation about a horizontal axis, and is provided at its front end with an access opening 28 closed by a door 29 which rotates with the drum 21. A gasket 30 serves to seal the spac between the door 29 and the access opening 28. The drum door 29 is rotatably mounted by means of a ball bearing 3| upon a stud shaft 32 secured to the casing door 24. A nut 33 holds the rotatable drum door 29 in place on the stud shaft 32. flanged hollow trunnion 34 has its flange 35 secured to the rear end of the drum 27, and is rotatably mounted in a spaced pair of sleeve bearings 36 supported by a bifurcated standard 31 secured to the base 20. in place within the bearings 36 by means of a nut 38 threaded onto the free end of the trunnion 34.

A described in detail hereinafter, the hollow trunnion 34 constitutes a central discharge passage for removing liquid from the drum, and also accommodates a pipe for admitting liquid to the drum. A pulley 39 is mounted on the trunnion 34 between the bearings 36, and is secured to the trunnion to rotate it and the drum. The drum 21 is thus supported at both its end during rotation by the bearings 3| and 36, which presents decided advantages over the outboard bearing construction employed in some laundry machines now on the market.

An inner wall 40 spaced from the rear end wall 4| of the drum 2?, divides th drum into a laundry-containing chamber 42 and a liquid-collecting chamber 43. The laundry chamber 42 is preferably frusto-conical as illustrated, and laundry may be inserted by opening the doors The trunnion 34 is held 24 and 29. The side wall 44 of the laundry chamber 42 is provided with a plurality of, in this instance three, tumbling ribs 45. As described in detail hereinafter, the ribs 45 are hollow, extend through the inner wall 46, and provide communication between the laundry chamber 42 and the collecting chamber 43. The collecting chamber 43 is located adjacent the larger end of the frustoconical laundry chamber 42, and its side wall 46 is of larger diameter than the laundry chamber, so as to form an annular liquid storage zone 41 at its rim located radially beyond the laundry chamber, for a purpose to be presently described.

A plurality of, in this instance three, pumping vanes 56, are located in the collecting chamber 43, and extend transversely between the walls 46 and 4|, being preferably secured thereto in a liquid-tight manner, for example, by soldering or welding. As best shown in Figures 5 and 6', these vanes 50 are preferably spirally curved, and extend longitudinally from the side wall 46, to which their outer ends are secured, to a central tub 5| to which the inner ends of the vanes are secured, both preferably with liquid-tight joints. The tube 5| is of smaller diameter than the conduit 52 through the hollow trunnion 34, leaving a space 53 therebetween, so that liquid may escape from the pocket 54 formed between the inner ends of the vanes 50, through space 53 into conduit 52.

The ribs 45 may be stamped from sheet metal to the form best shown in Figures 3 and 4. Each rib 45 comprises two inclined sides and 6|, arranged preferably at an angle of substantially 60 degrees to one another. The side 60 is imperforate and terminates in an imperforate flange 62. The side 6| is notched or otherwise perforated, as shown at 63. and terminates in an interrupted flange 64. The two sides 66 and BI taper forward and downward and merge into a front flange 65. The flange 62, 64 and 65 may be secured to the inside of the frusto-conical drum wall 44 by welding or soldering.

The open rear end 66 of each hollow rib 45 projects into a correspondingly shaped aperture 61 in the inner wall 40, and is preferably secured to the inner wall 40 in a liquid-tight manner, as by soldering or welding. There is thus provided a free passage for liquid from the laundry-containing chamber 42 into the liquid-collecting chamber 43 and thence to the storage zone 47, the passage being through the perforations 63 into the hollow rib 45 and thenc through the aperture 61 in the inner wall 40.

The outer end of the conduit 52 discharges into a sump 15 provided with a drain pipe 16 controlled by a valve 11. The valve 1! may be electrically operated by a solenoid diagrammatically indicated at 78. The drain pipe 16 leads to a sewer line or other waste disposal point.

Hot and cold water may be supplied to the machine through the pipes 86 and 8|, respectively, and mixed in appropriate proportions and delivered in appropriate quantity by the mixing and metering valve 82 controlled by the solenoids 83 and 84. A pipe 85 conducts the water supply from the valve 82 to the laundry chamber 42, the pipe 85 passing centrally through the conduit 52 and the tube 5| and terminating in a rosette 86 located within the laundry chamber 42. The rosette 86 may be secured to the inner wall 40 to rotate with the drum 21, a suitable gland or coupling, not illustrated, being provided between the rotating rosette 86 and the stationary pipe 85.

The pulley 39 is connected by a belt 93 to a pulley 9| mounted on the shaft of a motor 92. Since the drive mechanism forms no part of the present invention, it will be assumed for simplic ity that the motor 92 is a two-speed motor capable of rotating the drum 2! either at a suitable washing speed or at a suitable centrifuging speed as desired. In practice, it would probably be desirable either to employ two separate motors for rotating the drum 2! at these two speeds or to interpose a suitable two-speed transmission between the motor 92 and the pulley 39.

The machine illustrated may be an automatic machine provided with a wash water temperature control I and a cycle control IIlI, indicated diagrammatically in Figure 1. The cycle control IIlI should be appropriately connected to the drain valve solenoid 18, the mixing and metering valve solenoids 83 and 84, and the motor 92, to put the machine through a usual or desired cycle of filling with wash water, washing, draining, centrifuging, filling with rinse water, rinsing, draining and centrifuging. However, such automatic operation constitutes no part of the present invention, and the mechanism necessary therefor, being known in the art, will not be described herein. Moreover, it will be evident that suitable manual controls could be provided in lieu of automatic controls. With either automatic or manual controls, it is customary to introduce soap or other detergent manually before the machine is started on the washing step of its cycle. This may be done by making the stud shaft 32 hollow and providing a soap dispenser mounted on the casing door 24 to feed through the hollow stud shaft. Such soap dispensers are known in the art and a description thereof is not necessary to an understanding of the present invention, and is therefore omitted.

In operation, whether automatic or manual, the laundry to be washed is first inserted into the laundry chamber 42 through the access openings 23 and 28, the doors 24 and 29 are closed, and the drum 2! is partially filled with wash water of the desired temperature through the pipe 85 and the rosette 86, the drain valve 11 being closed. Ordinarily, enough wash water is used to fill the chamber 42 about one-third full. Water will flow into the submerged perforations 63 of the lowermost rib 45, through the hollow rib, and into the chamber 43, establishing the same level therein. The motor 92 may be started to rotate the drum 21 at washing speed either before, after or during the admission of the wash water, and the soap or other detergent may be introduced into the laundry chamber 42 as above described as soon as the drum is rotating with an adequate amount of water.

Washing is accomplished in the manner customary with a tumbling drum washing machine, the drum 21 being rotated ata relatively slow washing speed preferably in the range of 50 to 60 R. P. M., and the tumbling ribs 45 serving to lift some of the laundry out of the washing liquid, raise it nearly to the top of the laundry chamber 42, and drop it back into the washing liquid. Because of the use of an imperforate drum, a more violent water and laundry action is obtained than with a conventional perforated drum, resulting in a higher washing efiiciency.

Washing may be carried out by rotating the drum 2! continuously in either direction, or first in one direction for a number of revolutions and then in the other direction for a number of revolutions, as desired. Such alternate rotation may be accomplished by making the motor 92 a reverslng motor, providing it with a suitable. reversing switch, and periodically throwing the switch from one sid to the other during the washing operation. As will appear hereinafter, however, draining and centrifuging must be performed with the drum 21 rotating in the direction of the arrow I05 of Figures 5 and. 6, that is to say, counterclockwise as viewed from the rear of the machine. Simplicity of construction of the driving mechanism and of the controls, therefore indicates having the washing rotation in; the same counterclockwise direction. On the other hand, there is a definite advantage to be gained by having the washing rotation exclusively in the opposite or clockwise direction, as will be described later.

After the washing operation is completed, the free washing liquid is removed from the drum. This draining is accomplished by rotating the drum 2! at a slow speed, which may conveniently be the same as the washing speed, in the counter-clockwise direction of the arrow I05 of Figures 3 and 6, the drain valve 11 being open. During this draining step, the outer ends of the vanes 50 scoop up water from the collecting chamber, and as the vane rises, this water runs down into the pocket 54 and thence through the space 53 into the central discharge passage 52 through the trunnion 34. The water thus discharged from the drum flows into the sump I5 and thence through the drain pipe I6 to waste. It will be observed that, due to the frusto-conical shape of the laundry chamber 42 and the con struction of the hollow ribs 45, the free liquid in the laundry chamber 42 will drain into the colletting chamber 43 as liquid is pumped by the vanes 50 from the collecting chamber, so that ultimately, all of the free liquid will thus be removed from the drum 21.

After this draining step has been completed, a considerable part of the liquid remaining in the laundry in the laundry chamber is removed by centrifugal extraction. This is accomplished by rotating the drum in the same counterclockwise direction of the arrow I05 at a suitable higher centrifuging speed, for example, 400 R. P. M. or above. As described above, this may be done by so connecting the motor 92 as to rotate in the required direction at the higher of its two speeds. During this centrifuging step, the liquid extracted from the laundry in the laundry chamber 42 will flow through the perforations 63, which it will be observed are on the leading side of each rib 45, throu h the hollow ribs and into the collecting chamber 43. Due to the centrifugal force produced by the high speed rotation of the drum 21, this extracted liquid will flow toward the side wall 46 of the collecting chamber 43, since the wall 46 has the largest diameter of any part of the drum. As long as the centrifuging speed is maintained, this extracted water will thus be retained in the annular storage zone 41 located between the drum side walls 44 and 46. The storage zone 41 must obviously be of sufiicient capacity to retain all of the liquid that may be centrifugally extracted from the load of laundry contained in the laundry chamber 42.

When the laundry has been sufliciently centrifuged, the motor 92 is again connected to rotate at its slow speed, and the drum 21 consequently gradually slows down from its centrifuging speed to the washing speed. As this slowing down occurs, the liquid in the storage zone 4'! tends to flow in toward the center of the drum, and is guided by the vanes 50 into the pockets 54 and thence into the discharge passage 52, as provlously described. It will be observed that, as best shown in Figure 5, each curved vane 50 is located immediately adjacent and in front of one of the apertures 61, from the standpoint of the direction of draining rotation indicated by the arrow I05. As a result, during the just described slowing down, the liquid stored in the zone 41 is prevented from flowing back through the apertures 61 into the laundry chamber 42, where it would be re-absorbed by the laundry. By the time the drum has slowed down to its washing speed, there is little if any liquid remaining in the collectin chamber 43, and any such remaining liquid is scooped up by the vanes 50 and delivered into the discharge passage 52 as previously described.

It will be observed from the foregoing description of the draining operation that, during washing rotation in the direction of the arrow I05, the vanes 50 would constantly tend to pump liquid out of the drum and into the sump 15. By keeping the drain valve I1 closed during the washing step, however, the washing liquid is prevented from escaping from the sump I and will tend to flow back from the sump 15 through the passage 52 into the collecting chamber 43 as soon as the liquid level in the sump I5 rises above the bottom of the passage 52. Since the sump T5 is of relatively small capacity, only a small amount of liquid is thus removed at any time from the drum 21. However, none of the liouid present at any moment in the collecting chamber 43 and the sump I5 is available for use in the washing operation being carried on in the laundry chamber 42. A somewhat larger total amount of washing liquid is therefore required than would be needed if all or substantially all of the washing liquid could be kept in the laundry chamber 42 during the washing ste This latter condition may be achieved by having the washing rotation of the drum always in t e clockwise direction as viewed from the rear of the drum, that is to say, opposite to the arrow I05. In this case, the vanes 50 act as reverse impellers, and tend constantly to cause any washing liquid that enters the collecting chamber 43 to flow back throu h the hollow ribs 45 and thence throu h the perforations 63 into the laundry chamber 42. Also, the imperforate sides 60 of the ribs 45 then become the leading sides during the washin step, so that there is less tendency for water to fiow into the collect ng chamber 43. With such clockwise washing rotation, therefore, less wash water is needed, and, furthermore, the drain valve I1 and its solenoid I8 become unnecessary and may be omitted, thus simplifying the controls.

Following the above described washing, draining and centrifuging steps, it is customary to rinse the laundry with clear water to remove the detergent. For this purpose, rinse water, usually at a lower temperature than the wash water, is introduced into the laundry chamber 42 through the pipe 85 and rosette 86, and the laundry is a itated in the rinsing liquid by rotating the drum 21 at the washing speed. The choice of the direction of rotation for the agitated rinse is governed by the same consideration as described above in connection with the washing step. Following the agitated rinse, another draining step and another centrifuging step are performed.

With the drum 2! constructed as above de scribed, the counterclockwise direction of rotation indicated by the arrow I05 of Figures 5 and 6 is, as stated above, essential for the draining and centrifuging steps. It will be evident, however, that the drum construction could be changed so as to make the clockwise direction of rotation the one necessary for draining and centrifuging. As pointed out above, the direction of washing rotation is a matter of choice. To have the washing rotation in the same direction as the draining and centrifuging rotation requires using somewhat more water and the drain valve TI. on the other hand, having the washing rotation in the opposite direction from the draining and centrifuging rotations. while it uses less water and permits the omission of drain valve 1'! and its associated parts, requires a slightly more complicated drive mechanism and controls therefor. However, I definitely prefer to have the washing rotation in the opposite direction from the draining and centrifuging rotations, so that the vanes 50 act as reverse impellers during washing and tend to keep the washing liquid out of the collecting chamber 43.

I have found that suitable dimensions for the tub 2! are as follows: The frusto-conical side wall 44 of the laundry chamber 42 may have an outside diameter of 21 inches at its front end tapering to 22 inches at its rear end, and be 12 inches long, and the cylindrical side wall 46 of the collecting chamber 43 may be 26 inches in outside diameter and 4 inches long. The annular storage zone 41 thus has a radial dimension of slightly less than 2 inches and a width of slightly less than 4 inches, and its volumetric capacity is approximately 2 gallons. An 8 pound load of dry clothes, in the sopping wet condition which exists after the clothes have been washed and only the free liquid drained off, will weigh from 23 to 25 pounds, depending upon the character of the clothes. After damp drying, this weight is reduced to from 15 to 17 pounds, again depending upon the character of the clothes, approximately 1 pound of liquid being extracted by centrifuging for each pound of dry clothes in the load, or roughly one gallon of extracted water for each eight pounds of dry clothes. The size of the storage zone 41 given above is, therefore, adequate for any load that could be washed in such a machine, and provides an ample factor of safety.

Figures 7 and 8 show a modified drum construction which may be substituted for the drum 2'! of the laundry machine of Figures 1 to 6. The drum III] of Figure 7 is similar to the drum 21, except that its side wall III (corresponding to the side wall 44 of drum 2'!) is cylindrical, instead of frusto-conical, and is provided with tapered flutes I I2, best shown in Figure 8, which cooperate with the ribs 45 to provide outward and rearward sloping passages II3 leading into the collecting chamber 43. The sloping passages H3 thus provide conduits properly directed for conducting liquid, either free draining or centrifugally extracted, from the laundry chamber 42 to the collecting chamber 43.

In the form shown in Figures 9 and 10, the drum rotates on an axis somewhat tilted from the horizontal; and the casing, bearing support, and drum shape are slightly altered to incorporate into the present form the principles previously described. The cabinet I2I is provided with an inclined front wall I22 arranged perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the drum and has a stationary door I24 and a revolving axially aligned drum engaging door I29. The drum I2! is provided with a laundry chamber I42 and a liquid collecting chamber I43. It is to be noted that a conical perforate wall I44 is provided for the laundry chamber which wall tapers inwardly toward the rear of the machine by an amount such that the lowermost element of the conical wall at all times extends approximately horizontal. Such a construction is preferred in order to facilitate uniform draining of the wash water over the entire lower area of the drum into the liquid collecting chamber I43, when washing is completed. Liquid is pumped from the collecting chamber by the spiral vanes I50. The perforations I53 are uniformly spaced over the rear portion of the wall I44 and extend forwardly at least to the peripheral line at the greatest diameter, so that upon centrifugal action, the liquid will be free to pass radially outward at the point of largest diameter.

The back wall I40 of the laundry chamber is provided with a central aperture through which axially extends the water inlet pipe I85, together with its spray nozzle I86. Liquid raised by the vanes I50 is dumped into the hollow trunnion I34 whence it is delivered into the sump I15. It will be appreciated that except for the variations or differences thus shown and described, which have been adopted as preferable due to the inclination of the axis of the machine, the other apparatus disclosed is substantially the same as in the modification shown in Figures 1 to 6, inclusive.

A further modified form of the invention is shown in Figure 11, wherein the axis of the laundry chamber is arranged vertically. In such a modification, it will be appreciated that the tumbling action of the previous forms is impractical and consequently a suitable agitator is provided, which may oscillate relative to the laundry receiving chamber in a manner well understood in the art. In this modification, the frame 220 supports a vertical flanged trunnion 234 to which the vertical drum 221 is secured. The drum is again divided into a washing chamber 242 and a liquid collecting chamber 243, the laundry containing chamber having a tapered wall 244 with the greatest diameter at the lowermost end. The end wall 240 and the curved connection thereof with the side wall 244, are perforated in a uniform manner as at 263, the uppermost row of perforations being at the point of largest diameter of the tapered wall 244 at its juncture with the curved end wall 240. The liquid collecting chamber 243 is formed by the end plate 24I flanged upwardly and inwardly at its edge to provide an annular pocket 241.

The laundry containing chamber end wall 240 is provided with a central aperture and gland through which may extend a hollow drive shaft 280 to which the agitator 28I is releasably splined. The shaft 280 is oscillatably driven in a manner well understood in the art by a suitable transmission 282 and driving motor 283 therefor. To release the agitator 28I from the shaft 280, the end of the shaft 280 is castellated as at 284 to receive drive pins 285. By means of a shifter rod 286 extending through the hollow shaft 280 and an operating lever 281 and control solenoid 288, the agitator 28I may be lifted a suflicient distance to clear the drive pins 285 from the notches in the castellated end 284 of the drive shaft 280. When the agitator is thus elevated, it becomes free to rotate with the chamber 221 for extracting operation as in the previous modifications, the motor 292 beingsuitably belt driven to the trunnion 234 for spinning the chamber 221 at an extracting speed.

In the form shown, water suitably regulated as to temperature may be introduced through the top opening of the chamber as at 219, and sufficient clearance will be provided between the annular door frame 293 and the top annular opening of the drum 221, so that free spinning will be permitted. The casing 22I is provided with a door 224 for closing the door frame 293 and for permitting the ready insertion and removal of washing to the washing containing chamber 242. In operation, extracting may b performed with the door open, and closure of the door may flex the resilient rubber-like door frame into light internal contact with the top annular opening of the drum 221.

Water is held within the chamber 221 by actuation of a valve 289 in the outlet from the sump 215. The outlet may be provided with a pump 295 continuously driven by the motor 283 in the event a gravity waste connection is not available.

As previously pointed out, the principal difference in operation between the modification of Figure 11 and those of the other figures is during the washing action, at which time the agitator is employed in place of the tumbling action of the horizontal or inclined axis drums of the other modifications. Because of the slightly dished shape of the end plate 248, the use of spiral vanes is unnecessary. Upon completion of the extraction of the water from th material being laundered, the water will be held by centrifugal force in the annular pocket 241. As the spinning speed decreases, the extracted liquid will level out and eventually drain through the hollow trunnion 234 into the sump 215. V

This application contains matter which has been derived from application Serial No. 430,911, filed February 14, 1942, now abandoned, for Automatic Domestic Washing Machine.

Although several preferred embodiments or modifications of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. As various changes in construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, reference will be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits.

I claim:

1. A laundry machine of the type having a drum mounted for rotation about its axis and in which the laundry is both washed and centrifugally dried, characterized by said drum being substantially imperforate and having a laundrycontaining chamber and an enlarged liquidcollecting chamber of a diameter greater than the diameter of said laundry chamber, means for transferring from said laundry chamber to said collecting chamber liquid centrifugally extracted from the laundry in said laundry chamber, said collecting chamber being so constructed and arranged as to retain said extracted liquid during the centrifuging operation, means including a hollow drum support shaft for discharging said extracted liquid from said collecting chamber as the drum slows down from centrifuging speed, and a valve for said last-named means for preventing discharge during washing.

2. A laundry machine comprising a substantially imperforate drum journaled for rotation about an axis out of the vertical and having a hollow drum support shaft providing a central discharge passage at one end thereof, means for rotating said drum at a washing speed and at a higher centrifuging speed, a substantially frustoconical laundry-containing chamber in said drum tapering outward toward said discharge passage, a liquid-collecting chamber in said drum at the discharge passage end thereof and communicating with said laundry chamber and having a diameter greater than the diameter of said laundry chamber, said collecting chamber having a storage capacity beyond the periphery of said laundry chamber sufficient to accommodate the liquid extracted by centrifuging from a load of laundry in the laundry chamber after initially draining the free liquid from said load, means rigid with said drum and operable upon rotation of said drum at said washing speed for removing liquid from said collecting chamber and delivering it into said discharge passage, said collecting chamber being of such construction and so related to said laundry chamber and said liquid removing means that said collecting chamber will be operative to collect water therein from the laundry chamber for removal at washing speed of rotation of said drum when draining the free liquid from said laundry chamber, and to collect and retain centrifugally extracted liquid for removal as the drum slows down from centrifuging speed and a valve connected to said discharge passage for preventing flow through the passage while operating said drum for washing at said washing speed.

3. A laundry machine comprising a substantially imperforate drum journaled for rotation about an axis out of the vertical and having a hollow drum support shaft providing a central discharge passage at one end thereof extending through a journal, means for rotating said drum at a washing speed and at a higher centrifuging speed, a laundry-containing chamber in said drum, a liquid-collecting chamber in said drum at the same end thereof as said discharge passage and communicating with said laundry chamher and having a diameter greater than the diameter of said laundry chamber, said collecting chamber having a storage capacity beyond the periphery of said laundry chamber sufficient to accommodate the liquid extracted by centrifuging from a load of laundry in said laundry chamber after initially draining the free liquid from said load, vane means located in said collecting chamber and rigid with said drum and operable upon rotation of said drum at said washing speed for removing liquid from said collecting chamber and delivering it into said discharge passage, whereby free liquid may be removed from said collecting chamber and said communicating laundry chamber while said drum is rotating at said washing speed for draining prior to centrifuging and whereby centrifugally extracted liquid may be removed from said collecting chamber upon slowing down the rotation of said drum from said centrifuging speed and a valve connected to said discharge passage adapted when closed to prevent discharge of Wash fluid from the drum.

4. A washing machine comprising a substantially imperforate drum journaled for rotation about an axis out of the vertical and having a central discharge passage at one end thereof, means for rotating said drum in one direction for washing and in the opposite direction for draining, a laundry-containing chamber in said drum, a liquid-collecting chamber in said drum at the discharge passage end thereof and communicating with said laundry chamber, and vanes in said collecting chamber and rigid with said drum dividing said collecting chamber into segmental compartments, a single port connecting each said compartment with said 1aundry chamber peripherally thereof and located immediately behind each vane and spaced substantially from each succeeding vane when rotating in a draining direction, said vanes and ports being adapted for removing liquid from said collecting chamber and delivering it into said discharge passage upon rotation in said draining direction, and for impelling liquid from said collecting chamber into said laundry chamber upon rotation in said washing direction.

5. A laundry machine comprising a substantially imperforate drum journaled for rotation about an axis out of the vertical and having a central discharge passage at one end thereof, means for rotating said drum in one direction for washing and in the opposite direction at a draining speed and at a higher centrifuging speed, a laundry-containing chamber in said drum, a liquid-collecting chamber in said drum at the discharge passage end thereof and communicating with said laundry chamber and having a diameter greater than the diameter of said laundry chamber, said collecting chamber having a storage capacity beyond the periphery of said laundry chamber sufficient to accommodate the liquid extracted by centrifuging from a load of laundry in the laundry chamber after initially draining the free liquid from said load, and vanes in sa.d collecting chamber and rigid with said drum said vanes dividing said collecting chamber into segmental compartments corresponding in number to the number of vanes, and a single port connecting each such compartment with said laundry chamber at the peripheral edge thereof, each of said ports being located immediately behind a vane when rotating in a drainin direction, and being substantially spaced circumferentially from the succeeding vane, said vanes being adapted for removing liquid from said collecting chamber and delivering it into said discharge passage upon rotation in said draining direction, and for impelling liquid from said collecting chamber into said laundry chamber upon rotation in said washing direction, said drum being so constructed and arranged that the liquid centrifugally extracted from the laundry in said laundry chamber during centrifuging is stored temporarily at the rim of said collecting chamber and as the drum slows down from centrifuging speed is discharged automatically from said collecting chamber without permitting it to return to said laundry chamber.

6. A washing machine comprising a substantially imperforate drum journaled for rotation about an axis out of the vertical and having a central discharge passage at one end thereof, means for rotating said drum in one direction for washing and in the opposite direction for draining, a laundry-containing chamber in said drum, a liquid-collecting chamber in said drum at the discharge passage end thereof and communicating with said laundry chamber, and vanes in said collecting chamber and rigid with said drum dividing said collecting chamber into segmental compartments, a single port connecting each said compartment with said laundry chamber peripherally thereof and located immediately behind each vane, and spaced substantially from each succeeding vane when rotating in a draining direction, conduits extending lengthwise along the internal surface of said laundry chamber and connecting with each said port, and ports in said conduits in the leading Walls thereof when rotating in said draining direction, said vanes and conduits being adapted for removing liquid from said collecting chamber and delivering it into said discharge passage upon rotation in said draining direction, and for impelling liquid from said collecting chamber into said laundry chamber upon rotation in said washing direction.

7. A laundry machine comprising a substantially imperforate drum journaled for rotation about an axis out of the vertical and having a central discharge passage at one end thereof, means for rotating said drum in one direction for washing and in the opposite direction at a draining speed and at a higher centrifuging speed, a laundry-containing chamber in said drum, a liquid-collecting chamber in said drum at the discharge passage end thereof and communicating with said laundry chamber and having a diameter greater than the diameter of said laundry chamber, said collecting chamber having a storage capacity beyond the periphery of said laundry chamber sufiicient to accommodate the liquid extracted by centrifuging from a load of laundry in the laundry chamber after initially draining'the free liquid from said load, and vanes in said collecting chamber and rigid with said drum, said vanes dividing sad collecting chamber into segmental compartments corresponding in number to the number of vanes, and a single port connecting each such compartment with said laundry chamber at the peripheral edge thereof, each of said ports being located immediately behind a vane when rotating in a draining direction, and being substantially spaced circumferentially from the succeeding vane, conduits positioned on the interior of said drum, and extending lengthwise of the laundry chamber, and connecting with each said port, and ports in said conduit in the forward wall thereof when rotating in said draining direction, said vanes and conduits being adapted for removing liquid from said collecting chamber and delivering it into said discharge passage upon matically from said collecting chamber without permitting it to return to said laundry chamber.

8. A laundry machine comprising a substantially imperforate drum journaled for rotation about an axis out of the vertical and having a hollow drum support shaft providing a central discharge passage at one end thereof, means for rotating said drum at a washing speed and at a higher centrifuging speed, a laundry-containing chamber in said drum, a liquid-collecting chamber in said drum at the discharge passage end thereof and communicating with said laundry chamber and having a diameter greater than the diameter of said laundry chamber, said collecting chamber having a storage capacity beyond the periphery of said laundry chamber sufficient to accommodate the liquid extracted by centrifuging from a load of laundry in the laundry chamber after initially draining the free liquid from said load, means rigid with said drum and operable upon rotation of said drum at said washing speed for removing liquid from said collecting chamber and delivering it into said discharge passage, said collecting chamber being of such construction and so related to said laundry chamber and said liquid removing means that said collecting chamber will be operative to collect liquid therein from the laundry chamber for removal at washing speed of rotation of said drum when draining the free liquid from said laundry chamber, and to collect and retain centrifugally extracted water for removal as the drum slows down from centrifuging speed, and a valve connected to said discharge passage for preventing flow through the passage while operating said drum for washing at said washing speed.

PEYTON W. DOUGLAS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 476,995 Engelhardt June 14, 1892 801,627 Wunsch Oct. 10, 1905 1,631,266 Hasha June 7, 1927 1,979,673 Cassity Nov. 6, 1934 2,165,884 Chamberlin July 11, 1939 2,284,243 Zimarik May 26, 1942 2,344,253 Kirby Mar. 14, 1944 2,391,634 Lewis et al. Dec. 25, 1945 2,397,268 Jorgenson Mar. 26, 1946 

